Equipment Review and Discussion :: don't know which is the best combination

[RESCHIU]

I'm recently thinking about upgrading tank and filter for my turtle, I'm thinking about getting one of these 20L turtle tank with 50 GPH AquaClear filter, I'm guessing that the total amount of water will probably be about 20~30 gal. do you think 50 GPH filter is just right? or should I get 70 GPH filter? thanks
(if anyone know where to buy a good cheap tank, please let me know

[grey goose]

My motto is you can never have too much filtration. I say go with the 70GPH....

[DavidY]

get the biggest tank you can afford too. You will have to upgrade again very soon. The 20gal is only good for a baby. If you're limited on money, you could get a 50 gal Rubbermaid tub for around $10. That would be big enough for a juvenile to pre-adult turtle. Then save your money until you can afford something better. A full grown turtle will need something like a 70gal or bigger.

[RESCHIU]

thanks for the suggestion, the reason why I asked about the filter was because on the filter packaging, it recommended to reduce the water flow during eating, so that way, it allows the proper growth of the beneficial bacteria, so I just wonder if i buy a filter that's too powerful, it may become overkill?

I think I have a 'special" turtle, I had her for 5 years but she's still as tiny - about 3.5 inches, please don't get me wrong, I 'used' to feed her everyday and not till about 3 weeks ago, I started to feeed her every other day since i was told that it's better that way for a grown turtle. She was once diagnosed having MBD, but she's been doing good, I saw her shedding her skin about two times in pass 3 month now. Since I have a slow-growing turtle, I decided to go for 20L for now(she looks tiny in it), when she grow bigger, I'll upgrade to a better one I'll be getting her a brand new filter soon, and please, more suggestions are always welcome.

Is AquaClear a good brand?

[SpotsMama]

I'm afraid I can't help with the hardware questions, someone else on here will need to respond - but I notice you mentioned that she's very slow growing and I was wondering if she's ever been checked for internal parasites. That's usually the first thing that's suggested when someone's turtle is growing slowly.

[RESCHIU]

Yup, I had her checked twice and she's all clean , I rarely feed her any raw meat at all


this is the tank I got
http://www.all-glass.com/products/cages/turtle.shtml

[Hoooneylynn]

Its better to get an aquarium than a turtle tank if you are buying a new one... It says on the main site that those turtle tanks arent that good at all. Def go for the big filter!

[RESCHIU]

May I ask suggestion why the aquarium is better? I thought about it, but then since the type of filter I'll be getting is not "in-tank", the water sound is going to bother me a little if I didn't fill the water all the way up, so that's why I thought the turtle tank(with the hole for filter on the side) would be the best for me since i can fill the water all the way up to where the filter hole is.

[octpusgirl8]

If you get a normal aquarium you will be able to put more water in, which the turtle will appreciate. If i remember correctly, the turtle tanks will only let you fill them up about halfway. You will need to leave some space at the top so that the turtle can't climb out of course, but you can fill it more than halfway. I feel like the cut-out on these tanks might make them less sturdy also. About the water noise, other people on the forum have sloved that problem by using a little piece of plexiglass for the water to run down so it doesn't make a lot of noise. I don't know exactly how they have it set up, but there might be some examples in the photo gallery.

[marisa]

If you get a 20L aquarium, don't get an Aquaclear 50 for it, get an Aquaclear 70. The Aquaclear 50 is really good for a turtle in a 10-gallon tank. (I don't think the 50 and 70 you mentioned mean GPH).

[DavidY]

20L or 20gal?

[SpotsMama]

I think 20L means 20 (gallon) long not 20 liters.

[DavidY]

Oh, okay. I was confused for a minute there...well, maybe longer than a minute. Never mind, I'm always confused...

[marisa]

Yes, by 20L I meant a 20-gallon long tank. (I don't think in liters. )